Sprecher

Sprecher Brewing Co. was founded in 1985 by RANDAL SPRECHER, formerly a brewing supervisor at Pabst Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From 1985 to 1994, the brewery was located at 730 W. Oregon Street in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point area. Through the first ten years the company grew steadily as more and more people found out about Sprecher’s high quality beers and sodas. Finally, the company had outgrown its original facility and began looking for a new location to continue its growth.

In 1994, Sprecher purchased its current building, located at 701 W. Glendale Ave., a former elevator car factory. The new, larger brewery enabled the company to continue growing, and allowed more people to enjoy all of Sprecher’s fine products.

The history of brewing in Wisconsin began thirteen years before it became a state and a year before it even became a territory. By the late 1890’s nearly every community in Wisconsin had at least one operating brewery.

In the 1880’s Milwaukee was the home of more than 80 breweries. 100 years later, the number of operating breweries in the area can today be counted on one hand, and only one can still be considered a giant.

In 1919 the passage of Prohibition virtually sounded the death toll for all but the most diverse breweries. A few struggled through by producing near beer (.05 alcoholic content or less), soft drinks and even vinegar. Beer making didn’t resume until 1933, when the 18th Amendment was repealed. But even then, people were still reeling from the effects of the Great Depression, which of itself had devastated both the coffers and hopes of many of the earlier breweries.

Like the biggest selling wines, many mass market beers are made to appeal to as broad of an audience as possible. This means they have to be produced at a highly competitive price and that they must offend no one. Much of the distinctive qualities of the traditional regional type brews is lost.

Sprecher and other micro-breweries have revived both the distinctive quality of regional beer and old world brewing methods as well. The term “Micro-Brewery” refers to the relative size of the brewery when compared to gigantic beer production facilities of mass marketed national brands. Where these “Mega-Giants” produce from 20 million on up to 90 million barrels a year each, a “Micro-Brewery” is a considerably small operation, brewing less than 15,000 barrels a year. Although some have grown to 50,000 to 100,000 barrels a year.

Quite a difference when you consider a barrel is equivalent to 31 gallons. In that respect, the smaller Micro-Breweries such as Sprecher can focus more on its specialty “Craft Beers” with an eye on the highest quality and tradition of European style brewing.

At the Sprecher Brewing Co. we are proud to participate in Milwaukee’s great brewing tradition and we’re grateful for the opportunity to present our best to you.

Sprecher Black Bavarian

ABV: 5.86%Seasonal Availability: Year Round

This intensely dark Kulmbacher style lager has a superb malt complexity with the distinctive flavors and aromas of coffee, caramel and chocolate.

A renowned smoothness and a creamy, tan head make it a world champion.

Sprecher Hard Apple Pie

ABV: 5%

Seasonal Availability: Year Round

At 5% abv, this is definitely not your Grandma’s apple pie though it tastes remarkably similar. Each sip gives you every flavor you get in an apple pie — crisp yet soft apple up front followed by cinnamon and a pie crust finish. Sweet, tart and smooth with a hint of savory. Engagingly provocative, Hard Apple Pie is delicious on its own, in a float with your favorite ice cream, or mixed in a cocktail. Cheers!

Sprecher Hard Ginger Beer

ABV: 5%Seasonal Availability: Year Round

Not too sweet with a nice dry finish, natural ginger flavor gives Sprecher Hard Ginger Beer refreshing crispness. Try it by itself, in a Moscow Mule…however you see fit.

Sprecher Hard Root Beer

ABV: 5%Seasonal Availability: Year Round

An adult version of our famous Root Beer with a kick. This alcoholic beverage is inspired by the original fermented mixtures of roots and herbs that have evolved into modern root beer. This truly original American beverage has the flavor of Sprecher Root Beer that has been aged in oak bourbon barrels and is sure to please the bootlegger in you.

Sprecher Shakparo

ABV: 5.7%Seasonal Availability: Year Round

Sprecher’s gluten free Shakparo Ale is a West African Shakparo-style beer brewed from sorghum and millet. An unfiltered, light, crisp ale with a cider or fruit profile and a dry vinous aftertaste, it is best characterized as an easy-drinking or session beer perfect for summer gatherings. This beer pairs nicely with lighter fare such as sandwiches, salads, chicken, fish, and spicier foods.

Originally conceived of in an effort to provide a traditional African style beer for Milwaukee’s African World Festival, our Mbege and Shakparo have won the hearts of people here at the brewery and have been promoted to year round beer status.

Because barley and wheat are not grown in large quantities in sub-Saharan Africa, traditional Mbeges and Shakparos are brewed with sorghum and millet and are therefore able to be brewed gluten-free since neither sorghum nor millet contain gluten. Being gluten-free make Shakparo and Mbege excellent alternatives for those suffering from celiac disease, a genetic disorder that inhibits the digestion of gluten. Our Shakparo and Mbege offerings have been brewed with celiacs in mind and are carefully crafted to ensure they remain gluten-free.

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Under new authority granted to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) by Act 44 of 2017, the PLCB today announced its Licensee Compliance Program, through which the agency will educate licensees about existing license requirements and suspend the license privileges of licensees who fail to meet those requirements. Act 44 newly […]